Avalanche beat Oilers in SO, snap 10-game skid

Colorado Avalanche's Ryan Wilson, left, hits Edmonton Oilers' Ryan Jones during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton on Saturday, March 19, 2011. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, John Ulan)
(John Ulan - AP)

Edmonton Oilers' Theo Peckham, left, hits Colorado Avalanche's David Jones during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton on Saturday, March 19, 2011. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, John Ulan)
(John Ulan - AP)

Colorado Avalanche goalie Brian Elliott makes a save against the Edmonton Oilers' Linus Omark, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton on Saturday, March 19, 2011. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, John Ulan)
(John Ulan - AP)

Colorado Avalanche's Erik Johnson, left, and Edmonton Oilers' Ryan Jones fight during first period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton on Saturday, March 19, 2011. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, John Ulan)
(John Ulan - AP)

Colorado Avalanche goalie Brian Elliott, left, knocks the puck away from the Edmonton Oilers' Ryan Jones first period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton on Saturday, March 19, 2011. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, John Ulan)
(John Ulan - AP)

Stoa scored the only goal of the shootout on a pretty backhand past goalie Nikolai Khabibulin.

Kevin Porter and Matt Duchene scored in regulation for the Avalanche (27-36-8), who were 0-9-1 in their previous 10 games and 1-18-2 in the past 21.

Jordan Eberle and Kurtis Foster had goals for the last-place Oilers (23-39-10), who have dropped six in a row and are the only NHL team already eliminated from playoff contention.

Trailing 2-1 in the third, the Oilers buzzed around the Colorado net for the bulk of the period and were rewarded with four minutes to play. Linus Omark made a great pass to find Foster in front for an easy tap-in that forced overtime.

Edmonton had the best chance in the extra period on a late power play but Ryan O'Marra sent a shot just wide of an open net.

The game had a spirited start as Edmonton's Ryan Jones and Colorado's Erik Johnson dropped the gloves for a prolonged bout 11 seconds in.

Colorado took a 1-0 lead midway through the first period as Duchene swooped wide and then cut in past Oilers defenseman Jim Vandermeer, tucking the puck in for his 23rd goal.

The Avalanche took the lead into the intermission because of a tremendous glove save by Brian Elliott on Foster, who had an open net.

Edmonton tied the game while Cody McLean was serving a double minor for high-sticking with seven minutes left in the second. Eberle made a nice move to gain position in front of the net before slipping a backhand past Elliott.

Colorado regained its lead four minutes later when Porter skated in alone and slipped a rebound past Khabibulin.

Notes: It was the fifth of six meetings between the teams. Edmonton won three of the previous four, including two 5-1 victories. Colorado will host Edmonton in the final game this season for both teams on April 10. ... Edmonton was without C Colin Fraser (foot). The Oilers were forced to use D Jason Strudwick up front with D Theo Peckham returning from injury. ... Johnson, who left after blocking a shot in the first period of Thursday night's game against Calgary, played after X-rays of his injured ankle were negative.